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MG MG Y Type - reversing lamps

My recent fitment of LEDs to the rear light enclosures of my YB has caused me to wonder if the original reversing light cluster had a clear lens. Mine has a red lens and I am wondering if it has been changed in the past or has the reversing lamp always been red? Are lenses with both red and clear sections even available?
Ian Thomson
ian thomson

Hi Ian,

Noting all this is on my YT, not B
I bought a second hand one off Tony here in Oz.
/The tail light section had ben painted red leaving the reversing bit clear. But the painted section was a) the wrong colour, and b) quite opaque. A friend, who is a paint specialist, stripped the old paint and repainted that section of the lens, matching it perfectly to the one on the other side. So if you find an old one, maybe it can be rebuilt.

And if I recall correctly from when I was looking for this, NTG do have them, but they do cost a bit.

Unfortunately, I managed to crack the clear side lens for the number plate light when reclosing the lamp case. Now I need to get that replaced.
The pic is with the side lights on, and you can see how the LED flares in the side light, even through the red lens. Even more so with the number plate lens. So I might try frosting that lens a bit. The reversing light works too, but without the dash wiring done, it isn;t so easy to turn it on.
The reflector under the bumper has LED's too, low level for the tail lights, and brighter for the brake light. I need the reflector for legality, and the extra brake light seemed a good idea.
cheers KG

The pic is an OOPS, but I am sure you can work around that.


K G Mills

Hi Ian,
(Dripping tap here)
Two pics with light on. (Easy enough, same excitation as side lights, just select reverse, and viola.
In Aust, (and I think USA?), reversing lights are required to be white. But here in Aust, we do get some leeway with classic vehicles, so maybe we would get away with the red if need be.

Anyway, you may need to check that with the local people.

It looks a bit like I could kill the side/number lights a bit with a series resistor. Perhaps one day... However all loomed up and heat shrink wrapped,

cheers KG





K G Mills

The plot thickens. thanks KG but I never expected the car to have had all clear lenses originally. I can, just about, believe that the reversing lights were originally red or that there is such a lens that has clear on one side and red on the othe, though I have not seen one. Mine are all red now but they could have been replaced at some time. According to the original wiring diagram there was one reversing light on one side with a side light on the other with two brake lights, one on each side. I can't see any jurisdiction being happy with a white brake light!
Ian
ian thomson

Ian
I am sure I have seen D lights for sale with a clear lens for the reversing light on the near side. I cant remember the details of the lenses except to say I don't think it compromised the two red lights which are a statutory requirement in the UK.
Personally I think it was probably of little use in this form and I favoured hanging a light under the bumper but then again parking at my place is a bit tight so I need all the help I can get .Each to their own .

John B
J K Bowman

Hi Ian,
I seem to have confused things a bit.
The original configuration from my reading (except for the U.S. cars)with the two D lamps is that the one on the offside has a red lens, and serves as a brake light and side light, but the one on the left is bi-coloured, and has a clear section for the reversing light and a red section for the side light.
So one brake light (red) and one reversing light (white ie clear). Page 115/6 in LTBY's confirms these as correct. The left side lens was clear with a red painted window for the tail light. There was only one brake light.
(Because I , personal preference or prejudice if you will, don't like just one brake light, I took the option to use as reflectors, the bumper reflectors from a Ford Transit, which come in a version with LED';s. These LED's are now set up as extra side lights and brake lights, all red.)
Just to confirm that these lens exist, the image is from NTG's web site. But I note they call up 2 per vehicle, which I think is an over-sight. That type of lens is the one I have now in the left D-lamp. (Bought from Tony Slattery)
My earlier pictures show just how the intense concentrated light source in the LED's tends to come through the lens with a bit of a flare. Actually, it isn't so strong an effect when viewed from a distance anyway.
And as I say, a red reversing light isn't generally legal here in Australia, the reason as I understand, being that reversing lights act as a warning to pedestrians and other drivers that the car is likely to reverse, whereas a red light just says the brakes are on. Which does raise a question as to whether or not the reversing light should be wired with the side lights, (as per the original wiring) or from the ignition as is the brake light. If both lens are all red, I would suggest they should be configured as stop lights to conform.
And Then I rather like the suggestion from J B that an extra lamp be used as the reversing light. So change the wiring in the boot to give two stop lamps in the D's, and then fit an extra (white) lamp somewhere. Maybe I should have gone that way too.
regards KG


K G Mills

I wired both my YT D lamps so they were both stop lights and ran / extended the reverse light wiring to a small LED below the rear bumper in the centre. Reverse light is activated when Reverse gear is engaged.
2 stop lamps, like direction flashers are for safety in todays traffic. I would also add a high central brake light if I can find a simple bracket I can fit which is not permanent.
Stuart
Stuart Duncan

Thanks to you all. It makes sense that there should be lenses available with both colour segments. I have not knowingly seen them though I should have looked in the NTG catalogue.
Regards Ian.
ian thomson

Hi Ian
I always thought the d lamp for reversing
had a chrome bar down part of the opening cover/lens carrier the narrow strip for the white reversing the rest d shaped red. my own YB was just nine years old when bought and had full red d's and a separate lucas reversing light. If you are after a D lamp wih the bar i may have one not sure till i look.
John YB0362
JC Jebb

i got it round wrong way silly me, age is the excuse!!
John YB0362
JC Jebb

This thread was discussed between 09/01/2022 and 17/01/2022

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